ASHFORD and St Peter’s is one of 11 NHS Trusts in London and the South East to benefit from a new health initiative aimed at improving access and quality of care.

Almost 200 trusts applied to take part in the programme, with 33 being awarded pilot status and a share of the £3 million available. Each trust will receive between £70,000 and £105,000 in grant funding over the next 18 months to spend on redesigning and reshaping the service they provide to patients needing plastic surgery or with those with urological (urinary system) problems. The trial project at Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Trust is to give urologists the opportunity of using ultrasound. This technique, used throughout most of Europe, has many potential benefits for staff and patients. It will remove the need for hospital visits and lead to a swifter diagnosis process. The initiative is being run by the Action On programme, part of the NHS Modernisation Agency. Surgeons have welcomed the new initiative. Head of the urological surgeons’ group (BAUS) James Bramble said: “BAUS is very keen to support Action On Urology. This programme recognises the enthusiasm my colleagues feel about new approaches to care and the need for support in delivering those improvements. “We wish the programme success and will do all we can to make it so.” Programme director at Action On, Nick Evans said the initiative confirmed the real desire to make things happen within the NHS.